Countertop Measuring Guide
Because QGC uses prefabricated slabs and does all required fabrications on-site we do rely on customer measurements for accurate quoting. Make sure to also bring in a variety of pictures of the area both to help us visualize, and so we can recognize potential problem areas before we arrive.
Depth: Measure from the back edge or wall to the front of the face frame. We need only the box frame of the cabinet from the wall not including the doors and drawers since the box is what the new countertop will be sitting on. Standard cabinet base depth is 24” in kitchens and 21” in bathrooms, but occasionally there will be variations in custom cabinets, builder grade cabinets, or due to wall inconsistencies, gas lines, or plumbing.
Length: Measure each straight section, from one wall or edge to the opposing wall or edge. Essentially, we are measuring along the walls and the longest exposed edges to determine the maximum amount of material needed. We also need the lengths along the back walls to either side of a stove, and from the nearest wall or edge to the center of your sink cabinet. See “corners” for more information.
Note: When measuring base cabinets, be sure to measure behind door and drawer fronts as those panels sit in front of the base box—not as part of it. While the measurements you take don’t need to be accurate to within less than 1/8″, knowing your cabinet box size will ensure we have pieces that are deep enough for your countertops, as our pieces are pre-cut for standard-depth base cabinets. If you end up measuring your current countertop remember to also measure how large the overhang is in several different areas so we can subtract that measurement to get the cabinet depth.
Corners: When measuring a corner be sure to measure at the wall, not the inside corner of the counter (where you might stand next to). If your corner is part of a peninsula, measure the longest edges.
Islands: Follow the above guidelines for measuring, and be sure to also measure current overhang, especially if there is bar seating. Let us know if you want that overhang to increase or decrease. Let us know if there are pre-existing support structures such as corbels or l-brackets and those sizes.
Bartops: Measure the length and width, and include notations of open edges on your drawing. You can draw them separately on your layout, or you can draw them in their position relative to countertops.
Corners & Angles: Measuring for corner sinks can be tricky, but you’ll be okay if you’re fairly close. Measure from one corner angle on the exposed front (with the door on it) to the opposite wall or edge. This measurement will be greater than the depth of your counters. We’ll also need to know the length of the angled front of your cabinet.
Appliances & Plumbing: Marking out where your plumbing is located tells us where sinks and other plumbed appliances need to be centered. Measure from a wall to your plumbing center (in sinks, center of the sink base cabinet).
To mark appliances, measure the following dimensions. If in doubt, take more measurements.
Windowsills & Pass-throughs: If you have counter-height windowsills, include the measurements and location in your layout. Measure the depth and width of the sill, and measure the distance of the sill from a nearby wall or edge. Pass-throughs are measured the same way, measuring the width of the isthmus as depth, and clearly marking its location relative to walls or edges.
